[It's the return of the author's notes! And to everyone who says that I should go easier on the accents… actually, if I say what I was planning I'll have to raise the rating. Huh. I love everyone who gave me a nice review, and everyone who has me on one of their favourites lists. And XM6, you're disturbing. I like you especially! And my sincerest and deepest apologies to BoomBaby101, for falsely accusing you. If whoever really took my story off their favourites list is reading this, you should be ashamed to let BoomBaby101 take the blame! Not exactly continuing the storyline in this chapter, but – hey, she's his mum! She needed to be reassured!]

Kurt made his way back to the Institute as fast as he could go, worried by the feeling that someone was following him. Kitty and Rogue hurried after him, both puzzling over why he had gone to hear that singer.

None of them noticed that they were being followed by another teenager, a thin boy wearing jeans and a tank top. As they reached the gates, the boy stood and watched them carefully. He stayed back in the shadows as they all went in at the gates, then stepped forwards and rested his hands against them. He stayed that way for several minutes.

"You don't have to worry about him," came a voice. The boy twisted round, his hands changing into vicious claws. The singer watched him patiently. "You really don't have to worry," she repeated. "He'll be fine."

"What makes you think that I care?" asked the boy in a gruff voice.

"Empathic. And besides, it was written all over your face when you were in the crowd."

"Well, if that's the case, then I have no further use for this disguise," the boy said calmly, and rippled into Mystique's usual form. The singer watched with interest.

"Very neat," she said approvingly. "And it certainly explains the maternal aspect of your feelings. Does he know that you're his mother?"

Mystique froze. "No. I don't think so."

"Do you want me to tell him?"

"No! I-I mean, why would he want to know?"

The singer shrugged. "As you will." There was silence for a moment. "You got the claws wrong."

Mystique blinked. "What?"

"They were the wrong shape. If they had been shorter, then the wounds would look like bear-claws, but I don't think that bears are around here at this season."

Mystique studied the girl more carefully. "How would you know what marks claws leave?"

Instead of answering in words, the girl raised one hand. As she flexed it, golden claws shot out two inches, then retracted. Mystique raised an eyebrow. "I thought you said you were empathic?"

"I'm kind of strange that way," the singer answered wryly. She looked away at the mansion, cocking her head to one side. "Is there anything else you need to know?" she asked, adding quickly, "about his condition, I mean."

"No," said Mystique, watching her carefully. "But I think that I'd quite like to have a longer talk with you."

The singer shrugged. "Not right now, I'm afraid. We're beginning to disturb the telepath. My name is Monster," she added as she turned to leave. "And before you act on those plans you were making, let me warn you – I earned the name." She looked over her shoulder at Mystique. "And I cheat in fights."

Mystique smiled at the transparent attempt to scare her off. "Now, it would hardly be friendly of me to kidnap you after what you just told me, would it?"

Monster looked at her searchingly, then smiled. "No." 'And you won't, because it would raise too many awkward questions about how you found me,' she added silently.